Category Archives: Silversmith

Just got back from my daughter, Savannah, High School class trip to Washington DC. It was a 16 hour bus ride one way and it was worth it. What a beautiful city full of amazing museums & monuments. I am a history, science geek so I could have stayed in one museum for a week but we covered miles of ground in just a few days. The HOPE Diamond is amazing… of course I went to see that and the Hall Of Gems in the Museum Of Natural History. This is my daughter and myself at the Lincoln Monument.

If you do not use Instagram it’s very fun. I think it’s like a magazine you design yourself. I will try and continue to post on here once in a while and keep ya updated. My show schedule (click this link) is on my website for the summer. My next show is July 21st & 22nd in Sheboygan Wisconsin.. Kohler Art Fair, space #106

Tomorrow.. I teach this class at Peninsula School Of Art in Fish Creek Door County. I do not usually teach. I like it/enjoy it but I do not have time. Why this earring???? We use several tools… rolling mill & hydraulic press, beginning soldering, and beginning wire wrapping. I think there is one more open spot in the class. Again tomorrow Fish Creek Door Co WI Peninsula School Of Art 9-4pm

Other classes ~ We are excited to say that Richard Salley is making a pit stop in my teeny tiny town. July 17th, 18th (Tuesday & Wednesday) He will be teaching the above two classes. They are pretty much full, but might be able to take on one person in each class. Main issue is that it is in Casco Wisconsin. No hotel (or anything else) – nearest hotel 15 miles away or more… Algoma, Sturgeon Bay, Kewaunee have hotels. It is NOT at my studio. My studio fits one person in it. (It is in my basement and it is an underwhelming place to visit.) If you would like to take one of these classes, please text Wild Prairie’s Phone at 920-365-6341 and we will let ya know if they are available. $275… need to be able to solder a bezel and saw out a shape before you come to class. I will be there to help out if you’re a newbie. Again space is available for one person, already almost full.

We have done about one or two diamond ring restyles a month. The above two photos are of peoples diamonds they wanted redone into something else. It’s been super fun. The budget for this completely varies depending on what you want and the amount of gold you want to use. All of them turn out a little different than the next. email if you are interested 🙂 joy@joykruse.com

White Sapphire & Faceted Moonstone Necklace… This is currently at J Jeffery Jewelers in Fish Creek Door County Wisconsin. We made this for the Royal Wedding but ya know the Queen just never called? We are still perplexed as to why she does know us. 🙂 🙂 🙂 And the Bride! She wasn’t even wearing a necklace! Talk about missed opportunity on their part. (Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!)

We created another website for stone lovers. I have had a supply site for years on Etsy called MidnightinSavannah.Etsy.com. I wanted to have a site that was not controlled by another company. (I had an ecommerce site go out of business and take all my business with it- yikes!) So, we made a new site that is not owned by another vendor for our stones and supplies: SavannahJewelrySupply.com

On June 21st at 9am Central time we will have a huge sale via Instagram for stones that I have hand picked. The instagram site is @savannahjewelrysupply We post the stone parcels and they all have a name. You just text us the name of the parcel you want ~ Studio Phone # 920-365-6341. We let ya know if it’s available or already gone. You send us your PayPal email and we invoice you for your stones. If you want more than one parcel we make a pile for you & invoice you when the sale is over. If you are out of the country then DM us on Instagram. US shipping is $5 & overseas shipping is $12.

We will have a large selection of faceted freeform gems as well on that day: Prehnite, Carnelian, Labradorite, Amethyst, Moonstone, Yellow Opal, Variscite, Amazonite, Chrysophrase, Pink Opal. Text to purchase right from the photo 920-365-6341

Moving up & moving out 🙂 🙂 🙂 If you have ever been to my studio, you know I work in my basement. It’s finally time for a new studio. Financially, it’s not worth it (my basement is ok) however, I plan to work until I am dead so I have to move above ground just for moral. It won’t be amazing like the pinterest photos of studios (it will be a garage with a lot of windows) but it will be amazing to me as it will be above ground with a spectacular view the sun setting on my wild prairie. I can’t wait to just pour some concrete and stand on it…soon… 🙂 🙂 🙂 I will have a Christmas Open House in the new studio and you’re invited.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! If you will be out and about doing some Christmas shopping this weekend, Wild Prairie Silver will be at TWO LOCATIONS~ East Depere High School from 9-3 on Saturday. On Sunday I will be at the Green Bay Yacht Club from 11-5. The yacht club will be a much quieter setting with 12 artists, a cash bar, and holiday refreshments. There is still time to get in custom orders but don’t wait too much longer 🙂 🙂 🙂

This is a custom order. Cost depends upon the stone. This particular necklace was $650 but they have ranged from $350-$1900. Awesome Labradorite!

This is Taz. He is our new puppy. We are very sad to have lost Dusty Dog and I really miss his crazy antics and his maverick personality, but Taz is bringing a lot of laughs to our life. He has a lot to learn however… He is basically terrified of everything. He is a 5 month old boxer mix we got from Sandi Paws Rescue. Welcome Taz.

This is also a custom order called the Sun Moon Stars Ring. Customer supplied her own one karat diamond and all the gold for this ring.

Made a set of eight of these diamond rings for a group of young ladies using their Grandmothers anniversary band.

This is a Sterling silver Wisconsin charm made for Pandora/Troll style bracelets. These Wisconsin charms & earrings will be in the magazine “Our Wisconsin” December issue. I can’t wait to see it! Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/473452798/sterling-silver-wisconsin-bracelet-charm?ref=shop_home_active_18

I have several other new pieces in my Etsy shop (joykruse.etsy.com) and could load about 20 more photos on here but this is good nite for now and hopefully you will have a wonderful, thankful day tomorrow with family, friends & loved ones. Maybe see you Saturday or Sunday in person.

Summer is going by way too fast! Making me want to scream, STOP!!!!!! In two weeks is ArtStreet in Downtown Green Bay Wisconsin. This is a very fun art show/ festival. It is August 26, 27, 28th. I am booth number 177 I believe. I do not have a map of the grounds yet, but they should post that soon. Go to Mosaicarts.org. http://mosaicartsinc.org

To follow are some things I have made this summer. Some are for sale and some are sold or custom orders. It’s been an exciting summer for custom orders. There are few pieces I have made that just amazing me. They had so much meaning to them. It is a wonderful thing to bring that persons memory to life in a piece they can wear every day.

Necklace and rings that are at J Jeffery Taylor in Fish Creek Wisconsin. If you would like one made for you I can have you pick out your own stone. Price estimate $200-$250

Custom Order Twig Vine Aquamarine and Diamond Ring ~ Reverse side of this ring has 4 diamonds wrapping around the stone. This lady was floored. I thanked her up and down for the opportunity to make such a special piece for her. It was such a pleasure and meant to be. In memory of her mother and all of her mother’s favorite things incorporated into the design.

This has never happened? How does the above happen? I don’t have any idea: 25,000 + views on one of my videos? I’m dumbfounded. The company was as well. They said thanks and I said you’re welcome. Love your tools: Pepe Tools….. especially your jump ringer.

Again if you would like one of these necklace just contact me. You can pick out your own stone. Cost estimate is $400-$900…just depends on the stone. Just this one stone was $175 but I have stones that are $50 as well.

One of my favorite customers had this ring made from a pile of jewelry she was not wearing. How fun!!!!!! This is the ultimate in recycling. Thanks R and TGIF!

This is myself, Katie and Savannah in Madison. I probably will not continue to do Madison. It’s a big show, expensive & a ton of extra work. I do several shows that cost me less than $100 total and I have them available to me right by my home. This show I am out $500-$800 before I ever arrive and it’s 50% more work than usual. I am so swamped with work that I just don’t need the extra work load. I will pick up a show that is in a rural tourist area that I enjoy instead of cooking on the pavement in a big urban environment. I so love the shows I do in parks, in pretty little places that this big city show is not for me. I have done it two years in a row to give myself a chance at really getting a taste for it and it’s just not my style. So, love ya Madison maybe I will try your inside Holiday Christmas show instead of being among the buildings. Not in anyway is the show not a good show… so try it if you want to… the downtown thing is not for me.

I was talking to a friend this week, another artist, she is burned out. I feel for her and honestly it’s hard for me to relate. I suffer from burnout for about 3 minutes and then it passes when a thousand light bulbs go off in my head for the zillion ideas I will never life long enough to create. I guess I should consider myself lucky?

Ok, Luck, you sassy little fellow you, bestowing your gifts on only the ‘Lucky’ few, let us consider the alternatives for myself (everyone is different~ I used to be an RN) which are as follows: Get up at zero-dark thirty and commute 30 minutes one way to a hospital leaving your home at 5:45 am, kids getting up on their own eating nothing/eating garbage, kids coming home on their own~doing God knows what while I get home whenever someone decides my day is done, driving 30 minutes home, leaving my house at 5 am because of 3-16 inches of snow or 20 below zero, working in a place that does not even know my name, caring like crazy about what I am doing at work and no one else gives a damn, taking care of people was priceless ~ I truly loved it, taking care of people that want it all ~ want it now ~ want it fast and want it free ~ not so priceless but it has to be done anyway, having a day at work when I cannot get a drink of water/use the bathroom let alone eat something ~ this is common for every nurse I have ever known, getting a raise based upon secret shopper phone calls when I never answer the phone (hmmm?), making less money than every carpenter I know and I can save your life, working until 65 with no benefits into retirement (this always baffled me as other public servant careers-police, firemen, teachers, librarian…funded retirements at 55 years old), exposed to MRSA daily, exposed to ????? disease daily…..

Ok, my burnout is gone for like 5 years after rehashing all of that. If you are suffering from burnout are there reasons why? Are you making things you don’t like? Are you making things for too little money? Do you need a challenge ~ bored and need a new skill to practice? Are you tired and not taking care of yourself? Are you an introvert and you need someone else to be your ‘frontman’? Do you need to find a way to make more with less or work in a more streamline way? (I am really good at that.) The best thing to do is to make plan: create weekly, monthly, yearly, 5 year, 10 year, lifetime goals and write them down! Pin them up somewhere you can see them during the day. Change your goals as you change. Be very specific with your goals. Number one thing ~ get out of bed and work. Work a 40 hour work week or more at your job as an artist. Log your hours. Time on the computer does not count. It does take work. I work a lot. My motto is, ‘Yes’.

I have had a ball the last couple of months creating and making custom orders for all kinds of people from every place in the world. The reach the internet has is amazing. The customers have been from all walks of life and they have all had their own story to tell behind each piece of jewelry. I have even spoken with several of them on the phone to get their order correct and it’s a treat for me. A simple phone call is so much easier and fast to decipher than an email. A lot gets lost in an email and most of the time I am ‘seeing’ what they are ‘saying’ incorrectly. If you have a custom order send me an email and then let’s talk.

On Thursday last week I drop off work at J Jeffery Taylor Jewelry and Fine Art Gallery in Fish Creek Wisconsin. I was nervous. I have been comfortable with my other gallery and they were comfortable with me. So, it was a new start and a change that I was really anxious about. It is a jewelry gallery and I am humbled. My work being next to other artists I greatly admire is just a dream to me. The place is stunning. You can visit their website at jjeffreytaylor.com. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around making items of jewelry that cost as much as some cars I have owned, but you only live once and I’m not leaving this earth while yawning….

Custom Order… the stone was the most beautiful I had ever seen… Aqua Nueva Agate and Amethyst

This is my daughter and I last year at Art Street in Green Bay. I have my first show of the summer in a couple of weeks and need to make a lot for that show as I don’t have very many one of a kind pieces left right now. If you follow my instagram feed you will see photos of work daily as I am making it, #wildprairiesilver. Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Show is May 28th and May 29th, Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (not Monday). It is held in Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay ~ right on the water. The main bridge (highway 57) in Sturgeon Bay is closed on until July 4th…oh, cry, the detour goes right past the show… hmmm….. I think we will be busy.

Winter never slowed here on the Prairie. I am out growing my space and I keep setting goals in my head that I keep achieving, a head of schedule, and yet I am not going to build a studio/workshop. I have students that want to visit my studio. Well, let me tell you, it’s nothing and you’re not missing a thing. I get a lot done in an alley way of space in my basement. I am still cheering over a shipping closet with shelves in it. So, I will keep plugging away here…learning and doing and growing and reinventing the wheel. I love every minute of it.

After more than 13 years one of my favorite places is making a change. The Flying Pig Gallery will become something else. I am not sure of their vision yet, but it will be something different than what it has been in the past. I do know, it is a place of imagination, wonder, peace, nature and serenity. I do not think that will change. It would be near impossible to remove that from the environment there. I will dearly miss what is was, and the owners. They taught me a lot, and encouraged me with complete understanding, more than I realized. Thank you. It’s been beautiful. I may still have some work there but it is unknown at this point to what extent they will be retailing and to what extent they will be open ~I will keep ya posted.

These earrings and necklaces have been really fun. I have been putting a tiny gold dot in the persons favorite Wisconsin place… 50% of the time that has been Lambeau Field… no surprise at that. I contacted the NFL. No kidding, you can call them on the phone… They haven’t gotten back to me…no surprise at that either. I want to sell these in the Packer ProShop with the gold dot at Lambeau Field. You can’t unless you get the NFL’s stamp of approval. I am sitting by the phone waiting, patiently.

The earrings above are amazing. I love the style and swing of them. The little details are time consuming but the end result is so worth it. These gemstones I had to custom order. They are a melon colored natural topaz. No other stone worked with the coloring of the agate. The peachy undertones of this earring are very feminine. I just love them.

You can’t see it from here but this ring has a gecko sawn out and soldered into the inside of the band. It was the customers request and it was fun to do. Sterling silver ring with gold encircling the center. Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/270430145/mens-ring-sterling-silver-14k-gold-ring?ref=shop_home_active_6

Twig Vine Mother’s Ring ~ Birthstone Ring… this ring went all the way to Spain. Customer did not want faceted stones. They only wanted cabochon stones. I love making this ring. Every single one has a life of it’s own. It is a custom order and a custom price depending on the stones you choose. Email me for your custom ring: joy@joykruse.com

This is the largest pendant I have ever made. 5.5 inches tall… a solid sheet of silver on the back…all the tiny dot details I hand make and solder on small sections at a time. It was wonderful to make. Thank you awesome person with vision to want this piece made with this amazing stone.

Starting in May 2016, Wild Prairie Silver will be showcased at J Jeffery Taylor Gallery in Downtown Fish Creek, Door County Wisconsin. This will be a different for me. J Jeffery Taylor only sells jewelry. I have never been in that kind of retail space before. I am excited to be apart of a store that is focuses on jewelry. I think it will encourage and help me expand my horizons further in to gold and diamonds. It’s a change I am ready to embrace. Like the ring below…

I’m off to go walk Dusty Dawg… he’s been a blessing. Sorry if there are typos in this post.. I wrote it as fast as my fingers could type and I have had too much espresso this morning. Happy Spring to all and I hope to see you this summer at a show.

Tune in tomorrow to Channel 5 at their live 9:20am spot…. I guess it will be me…. which is a little scary that it is live. (You can witness me being my dorky self.) The live spot is for ArtStreet which takes place in downtown Green Bay. There is art, entertainment & food all weekend long: Friday 4-8pm, Sat 10-8pm, Sun 10-4pm. I am booth #147 which is on the corner of Cherry St. next to Associated Bank. I am right by the food & beer if that is any motivation. The next few pics wrap up summer. It has been a good one…

I made a series of 10 of these necklaces… It is Manganese Dendrite on Limestone. These stones were mined in a famous mine in Germany years ago name Solenhofen. Link to this necklace: http://www.wildprairiesilver.com/store/p377/Manganese_Dendrite_Citrine_Gemstone_Necklace_.html I will have others listed next week. If you want a pic of each one just send me an email and I will send you some pics. email joy@joykruse.com

This was a custom order for a lady based on another one I made that was much larger. The follow picture is of how it arrived at her house.

Hmmm… ran over it ??????? This box is stuffed tight with tissue paper… inside the tissue paper is another hard jewelry box that is gift wrapped… inside that box is another bunch of tissue paper and your jewelry. The pendant in photo above was bent at a 45 degree angle ~ seriously, it’s layers of 20G metal… The customer was wonderful about it. I am making her a new pendant and filing my insurance claim with the post office. I have never had this happen before. I did go to the post office with my photos… I just needed some kind of a explanation. They said a conveyor must have eaten it…. well… then send it back me.. really… look at the box.. jeez. You can leave that at someones door step and think it’s ok? Saga over… Making another one. It was a pleasure to do, so third times a charm.

One of my favorite pieces of all summer… Ocean Jasper, Tourmaline and White Topaz…sold

This is Crazy Lace Agate and Diamond. This necklace is at The Flying Pig Gallery. It is a beauty. The pics do not do it justice. The top of the stone is a drusy and I could not seem to get that to sparkle. Link: http://www.wildprairiesilver.com/store/p361/Crazy_Lace_Agate_Diamond_18K_Gold_and_Sterling_Silver_Necklace_Handmade_One_Of_A_Kind.html

This piece is at The Flying Pig Gallery as well. 18K Gold and Jasper. I have to make a pin based on this piece for a good customer… I am looking forward to it. Link: http://www.wildprairiesilver.com/store/p363/Jasper_Garnet_18K_Gold_Sterling_Silver_Necklace_Handmade_One_Of_A_Kind.html

We got a dog. He’s great. We needed a dog. The kids needed a dog. His name is Dusty. He came from a shelter in Alabama to the shelter here in Green Bay. (I think he is german Shepard and heeler?) He has been a delight for this past week. He is silly. He does not seem to have ever been out of a caged environment. He eats frogs and bees. He has learned a lot in the last week we have had him… like not to walk through a glass door. He has learned to almost trust us and relax and be a dog.

Kids life ~ Dogs life ~ good stuff, they have no idea how loved they are… and won’t for years and years…

Diamond Accented Cross sent to Germany. Was a favorite for me… even the guy it was going to was just wonderful. I hope he is wearing it as I type this ~ It was the saying he wanted and I really loved it… ‘Being Myself… Being Confident’ – ‘Happiness & Wonders All Around…’

Lake Michigan ~ Cave Point State Park a favorite place Summer or Winter

Yeah, they buried her entirely. This is our neighbor girl. She’s fun and sweet and easy to smile… Summer could not be any better when you are twelve.

See you tomorrow on the News at 9:20 WFRV Channel 5 and at ArtStreet all weekend long #147….

It is already cruising through summer and hard to believe it’s July. We have been busy with life, as everyone is that has kids, 12 and 14 years old. My workshop is busy as well and it seems to keep growing and growing which is a wonderful after effect of working hard. Went to the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee and got some fantastic stones and saw good friends. I am looking forward to this weekend’s show in Madison WI. I have never done an art show of that size, especially in an urban setting of a major city’s downtown streets. I will let you know if it’s worth the hustle and bustle. Sometimes smaller shows that have almost no over-head are better, easier & very enjoyable. Shows are physically demanding, so I try to go to enjoyable events, and not kill myself to be at a show. This show is expensive, fees, hotels, and help… After the dust settles I will give you my opinion on whether or not I will continue to do that large of a venue.

Been having fun with the Raven… The Raven: A symbol of the link between Heaven and Earth…good luck and god’s messengers to the mortal world. They are often used in movies in this way… a raven flying around when things are seemingly coming from above.

This is Karen… Hi Karen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are well! She was traveling through Wisconsin during one of my art shows in Door Co. She is from Oklahoma and reads my blog. I can honestly say I am so delighted she stopped to say Hi. I really did not think anyone read my blog so a huge Thank YOU!!!!!!!! to her and anyone else interested…. It means the world to me!!!!!! I live my life and run my business from home and could not do it without you. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Karen, I hope we meet again. Maybe class at Peninsula School of Art in September???

Gorgeous Cobra Jasper… Handmade forged chain… this is sold. Stone was just amazing. Thank Gary Wilson for what you do. Your stones are to be showcased and I hope I am doing that in a way you approve. Truly amazing specimens from Gary Wilson.

On a side note: I have a good friend Lissa Flemming. She is an artist like myself from Bayfield Wisconsin… Silverwaves Jewelry. Her Mom is in a coma fighting for her life- 7 hours away from where Lissa lives. Lissa makes a living selling her jewelry at art shows. She will miss her next three largest shows due to being at her Mom’s bedside 24/7. This will be the loss of her income from now thru the Holiday season. If you can please donate to this artist. She’s a beautiful person inside and out and needs some support to keep her home-front going while she’s unable to work and not home. Here is the link to donate: http://dm2.gofund.me/yk84crwI Love You Lissa.

Hope I am ready for this weekend. I think I am? I am at booth #81, downtown Madison Wisconsin. Saturday 9-6pm and Sunday 10-5pm. I have been told it’s hot and crowded. I will be ready an hour earlier than show start if you are an early bird, trying to beat the heat and the crowd… I have local shows the following two weekends in Neenah – Berstrom Mahler Sunday only July 19th & Art In The Park Appleton July 26th Sunday only.